Junior's new wheels

Yesterday we went to a big baby store nearby to pick out a stroller. Since we had no idea how long the ordering time would be we decided to go nice and early and also because we are having vacation together and enough time to pick out such items.

Good thing we had enough time, because it wasn't easy. Soooo many choices, and we even did some research up front. We knew that we wanted something very practical for when we travel, wheels that can handle off-paved paths and not to ridiculously priced.

We felt like complete dummies (which we technically are), but luckily we weren't the only new parents and we were all driving the strollers, hitting the corners, being clumsy trying to fold the stroller and getting our fingers stuck in the process of this.

Eventually (2 hours later) we decided on this stroller: The Mutsaerts (hihi, what a coincidence) Combi Style.

The stroller can be rebuild into a buggy when the baby is about 6 months and to big to lay in the stroller. We got all the accessories (like bags, blankets, rain cover) for free because of a Christmas discount. And on top we got a car seat with it that can also be mounted on the frame. Not bad...
The one downside of these strollers is that the frames don't fold very small, not even if you buy one that is twice the price. So we bought another buggy with it, that has a frame that folds super small and can be taken as hand luggage for traveling. The car seat clicks onto this frame, so again for traveling, or doing a quick shopping you don't have to take the whole stroller but just the car seat and the small frame. Besides that the buggy can be used up to the age where junior starts walking....
Here is the picture of our very modern and stylish buggy.

The baby's heartbeat!

Ok, Sean here this time. 

Technology is wonderful. I was able to record the experience of hearing our baby's heartbeat for the first time in both audio and video with a cell phone. Not exactly groundbreaking by today's standards, but I have to think of our parents generation which did not even get to have echos and ultrasounds, or even our just 40+ friends who had to bring in a tape recorder to capture their kid's heartbeats. 

A colleague of mine asked whether it will be a soul/jazz baby or a techno baby. I think his/her heartbeat is pretty strong and sounds like a soul baby to me. That would be great, because, as most of you out there know, my taste in music does not include techno. 

Merry Christmas at 14 weeks

Yesterday we reached the 14 week mark. I have to say that I start to feel better now that I have entered my 2nd trimester (whow, that sounds far into the pregnancy). I can eat anything, all the time, and I have only gained one kilo (0,5 pound) so far. The only downside is still feeling exhausted........
The last week before Christmas was really difficult at work. I could not get out of bed and I finally realized that these past 3 months have asked more from my body than I thought / wanted to admit.
But now I have time off and I am enjoying sleeping in, eating nice Christmas meals, going through some baby folders, looking around on ebay for a baby room, just all things I hadn't had time for to do yet.

I want to wish you all happy holidays!

Funny book

Sean got a book from a friend of his. It is written by a Dutch writer, called Kluun. The guy wrote some quite controversial books and I am still not sure if I like him or hate him for this (I won't go into the details of the topics his other books). But he did write this one funny book for fathers-to-be called "Help, I made my wife pregnant".
I read it too, and I have to say I recognized a lot of the anecdotes he wrote about, even though as a women it is hard to admit we turn into this creature you always told yourself you wouldn't.

Here are some funny quotes in his book that really made me laugh:

He talks about all the information women start to collect as soon as they find out they are pregnant:
"Within a couple of weeks after the pregnancy test she has collected a file that even Abraham Moszkowicz (a famous Dutch lawyer) would be jealous off"

A chapter about shopping for the baby. His wife wants to go through some of the gathered magazines to pick out furniture (the baby is a that point the size of a rice grain) and he thinks they have 35 more weeks to shop and prefers to go see his favorite Dutch soccer team Ajax. His wife gets mad an thus.
"An hour later (Ajax won that afternoon with 5-1, I found out from the internet) we virtually already spent a thousand bucks, because according to my wife and the copywriters of the magazines is the best for your kid"

At the store he argues with the sales lady about the price of a mattress. The lady says the 60 bucks one is so much better for the baby's spine than the 20 one of 20 dollars.
"I don't think the baby is going to have a hernia from laying on a simple mattress after it just spend months folded like a pretzel in my wifes belly"

About all the food you are not supposed to eat and other bacteria to watch out for.
"Your wife is supposed to watch out for cat droppings, Oh she already didn't eat those anyway"

"Human Chorion Gonadotropine. That sounds like poison, and basically that is what it is too"

"The placenta: Like a granola bar for the baby during the pregnancy"

Get the point? Written for guys but pretty funny he?

Good news at 13 weeks

Today we went for our next gyneacology appointment. We got the blood test results back from last time we were there and everything looked good. Also my thyroid levels were within range, so that is good for little junior since he/she is still dependend on my hormone levels.

The gyno also confussed the antibodies, which I already suspected. I indeed have TPO antibodies which corresponds with my slow thyroid and not TSI antibodies which people with a fast thyroid have. The TSI antibodies can eventually harm the baby by fastening its heartbeat. The gyno scared us last time by mentioning the baby has to go into an incubater right after delivery. Now that I have the TPO antibodies this is not necessary. I don't even have to stay at the hospital and could switch to a midwife. I don't have a serious medical indication anymore. Jippie!!

As a bonus we got another ultrasound. The doctor couldn't find the heartbeat with the microphone, so he used the ultrasound for it. We got to see junior again who was lively. It was really cute as he/she jumped from one side to the next as the doctor was poking around on my uterus. Sounds definetly like Sean junior.....
The heartbeat was strong and present so all according to plan!

I am really releived that the first trimester went so well and that my thyroid is under control and not as big of an issue as we originally thought.

Clover is moving down

We were joking the other day that Clover is moving down the rank order in our house. Right now she is nr. 1 according to Sean (he places himself nr. 2) and thus when the baby comes she will be nr 2.

I am wondering if she will dislike the baby before it even gets born, because for now even the stuffed animals are starting to take over Clovers bed.

My first belly pictures (week 12)

I think it will be fun to take pictures of my belly every 4 weeks or so now that we are at the end of our first trimester. So far there is not to much to show yet, but in a couple of weeks it might be nice to have some comparison. I haven't noticed much difference in my body shape. I just think I am getting some extra insulation here and there and I overall just feel like I haven't been to the gym in months.









77 cm at the belly button!









Not to much to see yet!

Going public (week 11)

After the first ultrasound we started telling good friends about our coming baby Junior. All reactions were great! Thanx!

On my birthday we decided to go completely public and also tell at work. I had little Sinterklaas treats with a pink and blue bow. Sean just took the treats without the bows........ probably a man/woman difference. Or hormones?